LPC applications down for second consecutive year
updated on 08 July 2014
As reported by the Law Gazette, the number of students submitting applications to study the legal practice course (LPC) is down 10% on 2013 figures.
In 2013 the Central Applications Board admissions service confirmed 4,865 LPC applications by the end of June; in comparison, there have only been 4,382 applications submitted so far for the 2014-15 academic year. During 2013-14, there was also a decline in the number of students enrolled for the postgraduate course.
The reduction in LPC applications reflects the serious competition for jobs in the legal graduate market. Despite a slight increase in the number of training contracts on offer recently, LPC students continue to face a struggle securing training contracts and also face financial uncertainty given that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has removed the mandatory minimum salary for trainees.
Speaking to the Gazette, Sophia Dirir - chair of the Junior Lawyers Division - commented that the figures indicate a growing realisation that the LPC is no longer a guarantee of a training contract; she suggests that the SRA should limit the number of LPC places.
